**If you require immediate medical attention, please call 911**
If you are a victim of sexual violence, you are not alone. You may be experiencing many different emotions and could feel confused, betrayed, unsure, and upset. There is no "right" way to feel. Being a victim of sexual assault is not your fault, and the Sexual Assault Support Center is here to help. Call our free 24/7/365 crisis hotline at 706.571.6010 for immediate help and assistance. A trained victim advocate can walk through the process with you and assist you in receiving medical care, legal assistance if desired, and ensuring that you have access to counseling resources.
Below, please find information from the National Center for Victims of Crime and the The Center at 909:
Being a victim of sexual assault is not your fault. Nothing in what you say, the way you look, where you are, or who you are with gives anyone else the right to hurt you. It does not matter if you are dating or have ever been intimate with the person who sexually assaulted you; it does not give that person the right to force you to participate in sexual acts if you don’t want to, even if you have had sexual activity of any sort with them in the past. It’s still wrong.
If you are a victim of sexual violence, you are not alone. You may be experiencing many different emotions and could feel confused, betrayed, unsure, and upset. There is no "right" way to feel. Being a victim of sexual assault is not your fault, and the Sexual Assault Support Center is here to help. Call our free 24/7/365 crisis hotline at 706.571.6010 for immediate help and assistance. A trained victim advocate can walk through the process with you and assist you in receiving medical care, legal assistance if desired, and ensuring that you have access to counseling resources.
Below, please find information from the National Center for Victims of Crime and the The Center at 909:
Being a victim of sexual assault is not your fault. Nothing in what you say, the way you look, where you are, or who you are with gives anyone else the right to hurt you. It does not matter if you are dating or have ever been intimate with the person who sexually assaulted you; it does not give that person the right to force you to participate in sexual acts if you don’t want to, even if you have had sexual activity of any sort with them in the past. It’s still wrong.
- Seek immediate medical attention, preferably at an emergency room. Medical personnel are trained to perform a "rape kit" exam, where they are able to gather evidence while examining the victim to help police and prosecutors find and charge the perpetrator. If you might ever want to report the assault, it is important that you do not shower, change clothes, or clean up in any way before going to the hospital, in order not to disturb any evidence medical staff might be able to collect for the police. Sometimes this process can be easier if you have a trusted friend or victim advocate with you. For more information about this process, click here.
- Even if you don't want to report the assault to police right now, it is still important to have a medical exam to make sure you are all right. Sometimes people change their minds and want to report to the police later. Also, in addition to treating injuries, medical personnel can test for pregnancy and whether or not you may have been drugged. They can also give you drugs to reduce your chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or getting pregnant.
- Tell a trusted friend or adult. See if someone can go with you to get medical treatment.
- You can call the The Center at 909's office between the hours of 9 A.M.-5 P.M. at 706.221.1033 or our 24/7 Hotline at 706.571.6010. If you want to report the assault, call the police (911).
- If you choose to tell and the victim is under 18, you should know that some adults are mandated reporters. This means they are legally required to report neglect or abuse to someone else, such as the police or child protective services. You can ask people if they are mandated reporters and then decide what you want to do. Some examples of mandated reporters are teachers, counselors, doctors, social workers, and in some cases, coaches or activity leaders.
- If you want help deciding whom to talk to, call The Center at 909 office or hotline. You might also want to talk to a trusted family member, a neighbor or friend, an older sibling or cousin, or another experienced person who you trust.
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